where in the world i will be in 2012

So i pretty much make it the object of my life to be as happy as possible wherever i am. Currently, if you haven't heard, that is bed with a sinus infection for a week. While currently outside it is really freaking blustery. And I feel like I'm the only person who acts like it's freezing when I'm outside?!
I'm getting out of the house all day tomorrow for a much needed doctor's appointment, meeting with my Professor, and a little Christmas gathering of girls at Indra's on the North side. But the past 6 days have left me restless, all the more since I was holed up writing my papers the whole 2 weeks before i fell ill :(
Needless to say, I'm not feeling the winter wonderland at the moment...SO I'm allowing myself a little escapist activity! These are the five places I'm looking for jobs next fall! First of all, don't panic OR get excited. It might not be a long-term stay because I sort of want my first archaeological job to be on site, and it is of course, me. And, FYI, I haven't lived in one space for more than a year since 318 Tranquil Ave. (the house i grew up in for all of you who are not fortunate enough to be Charlotteans) Second of all, lobbying wont help your cause. I'm going where the jobs are.

So these were my criteria in choosing:
1) Must contain at least 5 people I love (that's EASY)
2) Must have ample opportunities for either A) fieldwork or B) Cultural Heritage Management
3) Must not have a LONG and/or COLD winter (sorry, Boston)
4) Must be able to drive around (Not that I was even considering you, New York)
5) Must not be somewhere I've already lived (Oh, you were so close, Carrboro)

Essentially I've learned: Cold + Lonely = SUCK. So with no further ado, and in no particular order...
Where in the world would YOU go?


5. San Antonio, Texas

The River Walk at night.

I am in love with this city. And NO, it has nothing do with the fact that it is my ex-boyfriend's hometown (though his family is divine). Although, it does have a lot to do with the fact that it is The BINKLEY Family's hometown. San Antonio is very warm, very outdoors oriented, it contains a best friend and a church built in, and SO MANY great cultural heritage opportunities! Lots of parks and museums and lovely, lovely DRY heat. I've always had some mysterious draw to the southwest. Maybe it's Cormac McCarthy, maybe it's being a cactus, I don't know, all I know is I love this place. Have you BEEN to  The Alamo? But I would be lying if I didn't admit it's the dark horse.

4. Asheville, North Carolina

What's up most favorite city ever!? The only drawback to Asheville is that I'd never leave. The mountains! The fresh air! Downtown! The Music--the life! If you've never been to Asheville, you're missing one of the most beautiful jewels of the Blue Ridge. Imagine warm days, cool nights, fog rolling in over the mountains, distant thunder. Perfection. Everyone knows I would live there in a second, with a big wrap around porch, and a barefoot, bearded, granola eating boyfriend. Asheville has some great Heritage Management sites as well. I worked with the Folk Art Center and Scottish Heritage when I was researching a Celtic cross there in Undergrad.
Definitely the contender.

3. Washington, D.C.

 The favorite of many. I think in 10 years there's supposed to be a high-speed train between DC and Raleigh, which is quite appealing for family purposes! Plus, SO MANY people I love live in the greater DC area, and I would be instantly welcomed with their warmness and generosity: two Liz's, an Anny, Gary, 3 handfuls of sorority sisters. It's certainly the reasonable choice--home to the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, a slew of museums and heritage sites, and a great need for commercial archaeologists. It's just weird I've never lived here because i have spent so.much.time. in this city. Applying will be well worth it, but...is my heart in it? AND WILL THE WINTER BE COLD? cuz in case you didn't get the memo, I'm done with that!

2. Los Angeles, I can't believe I'm typing this, California

The unexpected. I didn't mean to love L.A. I just do. Reminds me of someone else in my life (whose grandparents happen to live in Laguna Beach). There are A LOT of digs in Southern California, and though most would argue that frozen yogurt is the only culture in L.A., I looked into it and...there are heritage sites and they are hiring in Santa Ana and other towns outside of L.A. So this is CRAZY. I know. But it's making the list. Some things you just can't explain :D All I know is palm trees and deserts make me feel alive in the best way. Sort of like being in love?


1. Durham, North Carolina

Old Faithful. Well, there it is. The safety. That's not meant to be ironic. I know Durham is not the safest. But it sure is beautiful and big and CLOSE to my wonderful family of little ones, and FULL of people I LOVE and have loved for a long time. Yes, there are more jobs to be had in the other four places I listed above...but Durham is full of opportunity and familiarity. What a blessing when those twain meet :D




FYI- I was listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album on Spotify when I started this blog. HOW AWFUL? WHO continues to give him a microphone? Switching it up to Florence and the Machine's
new album, Ceremonials, was an excellent decision. If you don't have it- GET IT NOW. seriously.

The little things.

And students protesting the Irish government's education grant revocation with a papier mache Phoenix over the Liffey

This is Narnia.

twelve looks of christmas.

Last thing to get on my wishlist!

OK, so being a poor college student [again] has done some amazing things for my personal STYLE...

First, i have absolutely ZERO disposable income, so I'm constantly daydreaming about things i would buy if i could. plus, EUROPE is much more fashion-FORWARD than even the most Metropolitan parts of the USA and Dublin is NO exception. The colors here have been vibrant this winter: MUSTARD is everywhere, as well as CERULEAN BLUE and [of course] EMERALD green. I'm all about making a statement with my clothing and accessories, and being a student again has FORCED me to be more CREATIVE with how i manage to do that. i like to think of it as.. "THRIFTY CHIC."

FURTHERMORE, i think the more you get to know yourself, the more YOU permeate through your fashion choices, and the better you look. So of course, my abundant alone time gives me AMPLE ELISABETH knowledge, which makes it easier to pick out what IS ME and RULE OUT what is not [like I did last weekend with the winter coats]. My friends can attest to the fact that i have often picked up something...whats the word? ECCENTRIC. They turn up their noses initially, and then BOOM--i put it on and it instantly becomes a another FACET of me, that is not only ACCEPTED, but dare i say...COVETED?

THUS, i have come up with my TWELVE looks of CHRISTMAS [or the HOLIDAY SEASON]. i did [or am in the process of doing] everything on the cheap, and in some cases just recycled things i already had laying around, but that made a brand new holiday pop when paired with something else. i hope you enjoy. i'm looking forward to taking TONS of pictures in NORTH CAROLINA over the next THREE weeks and even more photos in LONDON & ST. ALBANS, UK over NEW YEARS + EPIPHANY as well. Can't wait to post pictures from the my holidays :) try as many as you want for yourself....though i will admit leather leggings and false eyelashes are not for everyone :)

Sissy picked up one for me from H&M in Chicago

12th] RED nails and LIPS
11th] subtle GOLD eyeshadow
10th] PLEATHER skinny pants
9th] SPARKLE skirt
8th] NUDE gloves
7th] false EYELASHES- ala Adele
6th] Signature COLOUR [mine is EMERALD, duh. but my SISTER's are blush&bashful] do YOU.
5th] The WAVE. See how to do it here!
4th] Cable-knit SWEATER [preferably hand-sewn in Donegal] jk. but look how well the king does it!
3rd] SEQUINED accent of your choice
2nd] RIDING boots
FIRST] FUR VEST. faux, of course ;)

inspired by Carrie in the last SATC in Paris

                         

Love this color and up to the knee height

Perfect fabric. Perfect color. Tis the Season!

It took me a REALLY long time to fit these pictures together on my MAC format, I'm sorry if it's not coming through on your screen, I'm still getting the hang of the graphics (the writing is more my forte)

OWL love you forever.

 OWL CITY

Hello All,

I know it's been a while, but I'm bed-ridden now with a sore throat and swollen tonsils and icy weather outside, so I'll be able to MORE THAN make up for my absence while I was writing my paper on Shamanism for the past 2 weeks!

This year, Candace and I have both asked for Owls for Christmas from loved ones. Owls are not only cute and cuddly, but they represent wisdom and potency. I've compiled below a list of TEN WAYS to give an Owl for Christmas.  Enjoy!

10. LOVE this Owl-y clock

9. A sweet piece of artwork is underrated. This would be perfect by the kitchen or bathroom window <3

8. For the chef's soul in all of us.

7. Owl Necklaces have been huge, This is a fave though

6. This Beautiful Lantern works indoors and out!

5. I love animal hats & this one is quite girly

4. Send Snail Mail to the ONE you love. OWL style.  It NEVER gets old.

3. OBSESSED with these & Rocking the studs lately.

2. "Owl be there for you"

And of course, the #1 way to give an Owl to me or Candace this year is OBVIOUSLY a real life baby owl like this one!

<3, e
happy advent.

you give me fever

Happy List Wednesday is cancelled today because I feel feverish, it is about 40 degrees in my apartment, and I have 2 papers due in 5 days! Doesn't sound like much to be happy about... ENJOY THANKSGIVING!!

Dublin Dresses Up for Winter--and so do I!

The Mission: Find me a Winter Coat
The Seekers: Me and Candace
The Problems: A) I hate shopping & B) I am very easily distracted by sparkley things. Or furry things. Or black leather. oops.
The Vision: Double Breasted, gold detail, and ....remember this video?

                            

So, I can't afford this $800 Missoni coat that Adele is sporting, but I'm going for this look. Dramatic, sophisticated, crooning around Paris for lost love and looking perfectly pulled together while doing it. Let me show you the Top 3 contenders!

#3 This is a lovely and extremely fitted (which you know I like) classic black coat from Zara. It is double breasted with an inside (AWKWARD) zipper and narrow cut that hugs the hips. 129 Euro.

#2 Also a Zara classic black, this one has a BIG collar and gold zipper pockets. Also double-breasted, also 129 Euro. It's a bit longer with an A-line cut.

And the winner...#1 This is from some place called New Look or something? It's a very dark royal blue, almost navy, with Gold buttons. You can see the shoulders are poofy, and the skirt is flared. This coat is SO sweet, I squealed when I put it on. My smile [and the 45 Euro price] made the decision clear. I giggled the whole way home after Candace and I saw Twilight: Breaking Dawn on O'Connell Street.

Crazy Grafton Street

Dublin during the holiday season is simply gorgeous. I can't gush about it enough. The Christmas trees everywhere, the lights, the music, the shop windows, the perfectly crisp weather. It's pretty impossible not to be giddy with joy for the season here, as you can see!

Candace in the ILC Mall off O'Connell Street. MADNESS!!

Baile Atha Cliath = Irish Gaelic for Dublin

Happy Holiday season everyone! Go drink some hot chocolate and listen to Christmas Carols on 99.6 :) I'll be there in 22 days!

I'll leave you with this great song from Breaking Dawn...Sleeping at Last
<3, e

Back With The Top Ten!

Apparently he has one brown eye and one hazel? awesome.

10. My bootleg Drake album on the repeat :) Take Care.

9. Planning a new Wednesday ritual of skyping with Magan before I write my Top 10 list.

BFF <3

8. My Weird love of Winter that makes me crazy happy to bundle up 

in 50 degree weather and walk through pitch black Ireland at 4 pm :D

7. Coming back to Christmas decorations all over Dublin! 

*Two Giant Christmas trees in my neighborhood and lights everywhere [tis the season]*

6. Planning dishes and shopping lists with Candace for our first Thanksgiving away from home!

5. Sleeping until 1:30 today. Matt McDowell did too!

4. The super lovely Archaeology Administrator smiling and calling me sweetie

when I turned in my paper three minutes late today : / lovethesepeople.

3. My 3 mile walk home from school through Ranelagh. I missed it. Really.

2. Spinach. all. day. My tummy flattening savior.

1. Learning important things in Grad School like:

a) I do NOT have to be such a perfectionist. a B- will not effect my happiness in life.

&

b) It feels good to let someone really love you, instead of settling for the boys who just like you.

And who knows? You might surprise yourself and love 'em back.

*ADDENDUM* to #1  being on skype with Frank when he got his work visa from FedEx! HOORAY                 

Fat Love & The Marshes

Caitlin Lassiter Keating Marsh

Can I just say, I love looking at my last post from Dublin entitled "skinny love" because I am sitting here totally bloated from 10 straight days of fried chicken in North Carolina. I guess I went a little overboard this week after weeks of starving... More importantly, congratulations to my oldest friend, the person who has put up with me the longest and, possibly with the greatest compassion, Caitlin Lassiter Keating! She is married to a wonderful man named Jesse now, and I couldn't be happier for the two of them. You see, Caitlin is fiercely strong and independent, so I know this bond is a special one. Whenever I've been through hell and wanted to lay down and give up, she tells me to toughen up and gives me the faith I need to get through whatever I may be enduring, and I can't really think of anything I could've needed more in a friend these past 20 years :) They themselves are not fat, but their love is bounteous! When Caitlin and Jesse got married on Saturday, the Priest spoke about how our society has mislabeled love as an emotion, when it is really more of an action. We hear so often that love is a choice that we make every day, but those words hold so much more weight at an altar where two people are committing themselves to one another for their entire lives. Furthermore, the priest talked about how marriage is successful because we will it to be so, and because we accept that human love is imperfect, and the only thing that can bind something for eternity is divine love. I felt so honored to be standing in St. Ann's on November 12th with Caitlin and Jesse, listening to those words of encouragement and promise that there is a way for modern love to survive. I truly believe it is possible, not with the hopelessly romantic part of me, but with the grown-up, realistic part of me.

Carrie doing the dirty work

So let me tell you a little more about the FAT love that I received at home this week: Tricia Ann making my favorite enchiladas; Cousin Caroline offering to buy me a ticket home for the holidays; Magan unexpectedly picking me up from the train station AND making me (and Cameron and Josh and Dela) fried pork chops; Josh driving to Chapel Hill for < 24 hours, and he and My Mom for stocking up on Hummus and love for me; Theresa for many drinks and laughs; Lil for taking such good care of my fat baby, Leona; Chels for wonderful conversation at Whole Foods; Jells + Max for being my safe-havens in DC; of course, Dela for my favorite meal and taking my Mama for a spin in the Maserati; and last-but-not-least, my benefactor, Ease.

my first rosary, a gift from Mrs. Keating

This is why I'm fat. Not really, I still got into my size 6 Jcrew dress just fine this weekend, even after Chik-fila, Suttons, sushi, Mexican, etc...but I am fat with love!! What did I learn in these 10 days of American vacation between Irish deadlines?  That, like James Taylor says, Love really IS "the finest thing around" and wealth, or knowledge, or beauty, or achievement can never replace falling asleep on someone's shoulder and feeling totally safe, or dancing with my Mom to my favorite Bob Dylan song, or snuggling with my 3 year old doppelganger, Charlotte, on the couch, or staying home with my best friends because "going out" just isn't necessary for us to have fun, or being totally humbled by my cousin bringing me back home to feel all of this all over again in a month. I am totally fat with love. Thank you, everyone! Especially, my beautiful Punky for making me a part of her day :)

Total goof-troop on the back of the trolley--I think the bride and groom were supposed to be there...whoops.

Skinny Love: Happy Humpday

Study break for photo op! <3

 10. Candace climbing in my lumpy bed to wake me up this morning. sweet love.

9. Starbucks giftcard from Sissy = Pepperment Lattes galore!

8. The Irish sea that I'm looking at right now & its perfect greenish-grey color

7. "Winter is Coming" and it's my favorite season, so Bon Iver! (Skinny Love)

6. The word "brassiere"

5. All the hipster Halloween costumes! We've made it! I wrote an award winning* play in 2006 that is pretty much a modern adaptation of Hair! which predicts, not only the black president, but the rise of the "new hippies" and our generation's own protests. I guess I'll have to produce it to prove my genius. Or Not.

4. Whelan's tonight for indy music and beer!

3. Listening to my talking book on iTunes. Oh, Heathcliff, you're so emo. love it.

2. Andrew Bird's Amazing tribute to Shel Silverstein: Twistable, Turnable

1. Daydreaming about the FOOD I'm going to EAT next week: Sushi,  The Usual at 300 East, pumpkin lattes, Char-Grill, mussels, Carrburritos, Sutton's, Top-O, Tricia Ann's enchiladas!

Hoping to gain back a few of the pounds I've lost this fall because...

Who wants to be skinny, anyway?

*Sam Seldon Playwright Award, no big deal. The main characters are based (more than loosely) on Reid, Les, Far, and Lo. No one has ever read it (other than the judges). And no one ever will.

Idiosyncrasies.

What bonds us to people? Do we love the best qualities in someone or is that just what we're initially attracted to? See, I seem to go for any guy who can hold an in-depth conversation about art, philosophy, literature, or history...but that's not what creates intimacy. And my best friends, well, they're like me for the most part: open-minded, loving, and interesting...but that's not why I miss them every day and at this very moment need to be enveloped in a hug from one of those people who knows how I desperately need and resist such affection in tandem.

No, I think it's vulnerability that is at the heart of human intimacy, because in order to show our flaws we have to allow ourselves to be totally vulnerable to another person, trusting that they will accept us anyway. Attachment is bred from intimacy, and intimacy can only come through the total knowledge of these flaws (Candace pounding diet cokes in bed at 11 pm comes to mind).

But seriously, whether your philosophy is Eastern or Western, Christian or atheist, I think we can agree that loving each other is the most important act we take part in in our little lives-- I think of how I love my sister the most when she tells me I can't move, or text, or breathe too hard when we share a bed (oh, but she can) or how I love Theresa the most when she's being bossy, or Joshy when he complains about the mess I left behind in his apartment (when it is totally spotless), or Magan being TOTALLY wacked out the night before I moved and then holding my hand for 2 hours the next morning, or Lilli...certain that our cat is dying from a new ailment, or Frank just showing up somewhere after I haven't heard from him in 3 weeks or Les...puking in my car while wearing my sweatshirt, then telling me it's my fault (for going 35), or Reid who tells the same stories over and over again--what are you gonna be like when you're 50?

I could go on with my enumeration of idiosyncrasies in the people I love, and I'm sure everyone else could talk about my obsessiveness, laundry list of potential diseases, and need to always be right. about. everything. But my point is this: I miss you all so much, and what I miss is not necessarily everything that makes you amazing people (which you all are). I miss the Good Stuff: the flaws, some of which, maybe only I know about. I miss those things because they are a symbol of our intimacy as people...so it is, afterall, the little things that make life worth living. And perhaps it isn't the flawed  individual that we fall in love with, but it is loving someone because of (and not in spite of) those things, that makes it last forever and ever. amen.

<3, e

snapshots of the market and my future.

 For to listen as you browse: My favorite song or... have you been searching for a heart of gold?

Almost went JeanVal-Jean on these tarts

Yeah, He's Irish. All the good ones are ;)

I don't know how to eat this. But I want to learn.

I have to eat here at night, it has lights hanging everywhere.

Delicious!

Post-Rain abandoned street sunshine :)

And this guy played Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" the whole time! What a perfect song for a perfect morning.

Things I will never say when I'm married* 
"hubby." I hate this word
"hubs." worse
"date night." Just, No.
"We think ____." What, how?

*This is not a stab at those who do say these things...
I just need to vow this publicly so I don't recant.

I'm not good at being negative, so I started a List of things I DO want when I grow up
So far all I have is:

Extensive herb garden
hand-carved wooden bed
A room for piano playing and yoga practice for my sisters to visit
front porch swing (because where else will my old black lady ghost sit, AK?)

Happy Halloween Weekend! <3, e

happy humpday.

What are you happy about today?

Trees between My house and the Canal, Charlemont Street.

 10. Laying awake, all bundled up in bed from 7:30 to 8:30 this morning. Just thinking :)

9. British Chocolate. It's SO much better.

8. The smell of Autumn outside. Is it burning leaves? Chimney smoke? Heaven?

7. Downton Abbey. It's a Masterpiece Theatre program set in WWI era England. 

6. Showing PowerPoint who's boss.

5. The fact that I'm already packed to leave in 8 days--yeah, I'm an early packer, it's one of my things.

4. warm, fresh, delicious smelling Laundry

3. Booking an 18 hour train ride--with 4 hours in the middle spent in DC for breakfast

2. Delta Rae and their awesome feel good music

1. Just stopping on a long walk, breathing deeply, looking around, and realizing that the city I have chosen to live in is so amazingly beautiful in so many ways.

View of the mountains and rooftops on the way to Ranelagh

Wish me luck on my presentation tomorrow! It's on Issues in Environmental Archaeology in Prehistory like Neolithic woodland management, Iron Age farming + climate change, and technological advancements in pollen analysis. Reid says if you need help falling asleep, it would be a good read!

"Maybe It's All We've Got, But You're All I Need"

So the grind is on, which is why I'm blogging less. In 12.5 days I leave for AMERICA! But between now and then I have a HUGE fieldwork submission on Tuesday, a presentation on Thursday, a portfolio the NEXT week, and a 1500 word reflection on my presentation. Though I have another presentation, a 3000 word essay, and a 7500 word paper due when I get back in November, my time in the US will be a much needed period of joy and rejuvenation.  Candace and I are so happy here in Ireland-- we've each made a few friends at school, and stay busy with school and work, but spend most of our down time together. I'm so glad to have her back, things were getting quite lonely for the week she was gone! Mat Kearney aptly puts the feeling into words in the song quoted in the title of this entry.

Today, Candace and I are keeping warm and cozy inside our apartment, making sweet potato gnocchi. (In truth, I'm crunching away at numbers for my fieldwork submission, playing DJ, and taking pictures of Candace while she cooks for me). Of everything we've made this fall, this is the recipe to try! When Liz "Jelly" Wills made this for me in her Mouse House in Eastern market last year, I felt like crying it was so delicious. Enjoy! And please send a picture that I can post if you end up trying this delicious recipe :)

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Butter Sage Sauce

2 lbs. red skinned sweet potato

12 oz. container ricotta cheese, drained

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 Tablespoons golden brown sugar

2 tablesspoons + 2 teasoons salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 sticks butter

6 tablespoons chopped fresh sage 

1. Microwave Sweet potatoes on high until tender, cut in half and cool.
2. Scrape sweet potato flesh into a bowl and mash
3. Add Ricotta cheese, blend well
4. Add parmesan, nutmeg, brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt and mash to blend
5. Mix in flour half cup at a time until dough forms.

Steps 6-9

6. Turn dough onto floured surface and divide into 6 equal balls
7. form each piece into a 20 inch long rope by rolling out with hands (sprinkle with flour if it get's sticky!
8. Cut each rope into 20 pieces
9. Roll each piece over tines of fork to score/indent and transfer to baking sheet

10. Bring a large pot of water to boil, add 2 tablespoons salt
11. Boil gnocchi in batches for 5-6 minutes, transfer back to baking sheet and let cool
12. Preheat oven to 300

13. Melt butter in a large saucepan, cook until it is brown with a toasty aroma, swirling pan occasionally! (This should take about 5 minutes on medium-high)
14. Add chopped sage and season generously with salt and pepper, turning off heat.

Steps 13 +14

15. Now add your gnocchi and sage to a skillet to saute until the gnocchi are heated through (about 6 minutes), Do this in batches and place in oven to keep warm while completing all batches!

Enjoy this delicious Autumn meal!!


Also, this obsession as of late:
I love him for the man he wants to be, and I love him for the man he ALMOST is. I love him Laurel. I. Love. Him.